Merced theft defendant continues victim repayments

A former Merced tour guide facing theft accusations has repaid more than half the money she’s charged with stealing from about 30 customers, according to Merced County prosecutors.

Shirley Ann Benoy, 57, has pleaded not guilty to five felony counts of grand theft. She also faces 25 misdemeanor theft charges, primarily involving senior citizens. Benoy is accused of stealing more than $14,500 between August and September 2011 from her customers, according to the complaint filed in Merced County Superior Court.

Benoy appeared in court briefly Monday before Judge Mark V. Bacciarini. Benoy has repaid about $8,200 to the alleged victims, said Walter Wall, the Merced County deputy district attorney prosecuting the case.

Benoy had initially agreed to repay the full amount by Monday, but that did not happen, defense attorney C. Logan McKechnie confirmed. “I’m hoping and she’s hoping to have it paid off by her next court appearance,” McKechnie told the Sun-Star.

She was ordered to return to court March 27. The complaint says Benoy, while doing business as Golden Charm Tours and Shirley Benoy Tours, took the money from her victims, including members of the Gustine Senior Citizens Club and the Red Hat Ladies.

Customers, in some cases, allegedly paid for services that weren’t received, such as admission to events as part of travel packages. Other incidents of alleged theft occurred when customers weren’t refunded for trips that didn’t occur, the complaint says.

At least one of the victims in the case died in the time after the money was allegedly stolen, officials have said.

Benoy remains free on bail.

This story was originally published January 5, 2015 at 5:52 PM with the headline "Merced theft defendant continues victim repayments."